Oregon Ducks Baseball vs. Vanderbilt Game 2 Recap: Oregon Leaves Opportunities On The Basepaths In Loss To Commodores

Tyler Beede pitched 6 2/3 innings of one run baseball, and Oregon couldn't capitalize on a bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the seventh, as the Ducks lost to the Vanderbilt Commodores for the second consecutive night, 4-2, at PK Park in Eugene.

Vanderbilt got on the scoreboard early, with back-to-back doubles by Mike Yastrzemski and Vince Conde plating a run in the 2nd. The Commodores followed that up by manufacturing a run in the third. Tony Kemp led off the inning by golfing a ball to center. Kemp was bunted to second, took third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.

Tommy Thorpe was the tough luck loser, giving up only the two runs, but suffering from his bullpen not giving the team a chance to get back into it. Of 16 batters faced by Oregon relievers, only four first pitch strikes were thrown. Jordan Spencer loaded the bases and gave up a run in the 6th, while Brando Tessar gave up another in the 7th.

Beede was effectively wild, surrendering six walks, but not allowing the Ducks to take advantage, limiting them to only two hits while striking out seven. He walked the first two batters of the game--Scott Heineman and Aaron Payne--throwing eight balls in the first nine pitches, only to strike out the next three batters. Oregon would not threaten again until Ryon Healy was able to reach base on a error in the 6th, and the Ducks were able to manufacture a run.

But Oregon's best chance to take the game came in the 7th. Down 3-1, Connor Hoffman drew a walk and J.J. Altobelli placed a popup bunt single where nobody could get it on the third base line. That chased Beede, and a walk by reliever Jared Miller loaded the bases with Healy coming to the plate. But Healy swung on an outside pitch to strike out and end the Oregon threat.

The Ducks would get another chance down 4-1 in the 8th after a pair of errors put runners at second and third. A run scored on a Connor Hoffman double. However, Altobelli struck out with two on to end the rally, and with it Oregon's chances. Oregon got one more rally in the 9th, stringing together a pair of two out hits to put runners at the corners, but a flyout to left put an end to that rally.

The Ducks have a chance to salvage a game of this series on Sunday at PK Park. First pitch is at noon.